PLANNING THE BEFORE AND AFTER
OF A
SUCCESSFUL ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN
NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BAR FOUNDATIONS
MID-YEAR MEETING
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
DAVID A. BLANER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ALLEGHENY COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
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PLANNING THE BEFORE AND AFTER OF A
SUCCESSFUL ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN
• FORM A DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
– SELECT LEADERS WHO ARE WELL-KNOWN AND
HAVE A PROVEN HISTORY OF RAISING FUNDS
– FOUNDATION MANAGEMENT SHOULD SERVE ON
THE COMMITTEE
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PLANNING THE BEFORE AND AFTER OF A
SUCCESSFUL ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN
• DEVELOP MARKETING MATERIALS THAT
EFFECTIVELY TELLS YOUR STORY
– TALKING POINTS
– POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
– COMMITTEE LETTERHEAD
– WEB PAGE THAT HIGHLIGHTS YOUR CAMPAIGN
– PREPARE A LIST OF THE TEN MOST ASKED
QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE ANSWERS
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PLANNING THE BEFORE AND AFTER OF A
SUCCESSFUL ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN
• DEFINE WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH
WITH YOUR ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN
– RAISE $XXX DOLLARS FOR THE FOLLOWING
PURPOSES, PRO BONO, PUBLIC EDUCATION, ETC.
– WHO CONTROLS THE FUNDS?
– WHY ARE THE FUNDS NEEDED BY A CERTAIN DATE?
– FUNDS ARE RESTRICTED FOR THE FOLLOWING
PURPOSE
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PLANNING THE BEFORE AND AFTER OF A
SUCCESSFUL ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN
• TEST YOUR ORGANIZATION’S ABILITY TO RUN
A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN
– HOLD FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS WITH LEADERS
AND POTENTIAL DONORS
– REVIEW PREVIOUS FUNDRAISING EFFORTS
– INVESTIGATE OTHER SIMILARLY SIZED
ORGANIZATION’S FUNDRAISING EFFORTS TO
DETERMINE FEASIBLITY TO RAISE FUNDS
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PLANNING THE BEFORE AND AFTER OF A
SUCCESSFUL ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN
• DEVELOP A LIST OF POTENTIAL DONORS
– PREPARE DONOR LEVELS AND ASSIGN POTENTIAL
DONORS TO THE LIST
– ASSIGN COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO CONTACT
SELECTED DONORS BASED UPON RELATIONSHIPS
– MAKE REQUESTS AS A TEAM RATHER THAN
INDIVIDUALLY … STRENGTH IN NUMBERS!
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PLANNING THE BEFORE AND AFTER OF A
SUCCESSFUL ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN
• BEGIN YOUR CAMPAIGN WITH A “QUITE
PHASE”
– CONTACT HIGH LEVEL DONORS AND LEADERS
WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION TO MAKE A PITCH
FOR A DONATION
– LOOK FOR KEY LAW FIRMS, LAWYERS, OR
ORGANIZATIONS WHICH MIGHT MAKE A SIZABLE
PLEDGE TO GET THE CAMPAIGN OFF THE GROUND
– SET A GOAL TO RAISE 50 PERCENT OF THE FUNDS
DURING THE “QUITE PHASE”
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PLANNING THE BEFORE AND AFTER OF A
SUCCESSFUL ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN
• ANNOUNCE THE PUBLIC CAMPAIGN WITH A
MEDIA BLITZ TO YOUR MEMBERS
– ARTICLES IN PUBLICATIONS
– WEB PAGE ANNOUNCEMENTS
– DIRECT MAIL CAMPAIGN
– PRESENTATIONS TO COMMITTEES, SECTIONS,
& DIVISIONS
– PRESENTATION TO LAWYERS AND LAW FIRMS
– REQUESTS TO OTHER FOUNDATIONS
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PLANNING THE BEFORE AND AFTER OF A
SUCCESSFUL ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN
• FOLLOW-UP
– RAISE MORE MONEY THAN YOU NEED --- SOME
GROUPS WILL MAY NOT FULFILL THEIR PLEDGE
– SEND THANK YOU LETTERS
– TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS AND PUBLISH ARTICLES
ABOUT DONORS
– MONITOR COLLECTIONS AND SET-UP COLLECTION
SCHEDULES AND REMINDER DATES
– CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESS
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